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The excitement of Homecoming has arrived and Lancer Spirit is at an all-time high! The energy can be felt from walking the hallways and noticing the decorations to the enthusiastic participation of students and staff members who are dressed for the spirit days. This year's theme of How Lake Park Was "One" truly captures how the school unites across campuses and engages our communities.
Organized only once every four years, the Homecoming Parade is a shining example of how the school and community have come together to celebrate. With an impressive list of over 800 participants walking or riding in the parade, the line-up consists of numerous community organizations including the local Kiwanis and Lions Clubs. We are also proud to welcome the District 10 Educational Foundation and future Lancers from our sender schools and preschool program. Our Lake Park student clubs, activities and athletic teams will be well represented, and the arrival of 22 German exchange students this week from our sister school in Hamburg will even provide some international representation.
This time of year is also a special opportunity for our alumni to return to campus and reconnect with classmates. Our "Lancers for Life" are a significant part of school history and play an instrumental role in supporting projects like the Lake Park Educational Foundation (LPEF) Memorial Garden that is slated for completion at West Campus in May 2015. Other significant contributions have come from Lake Park employees who have generously pledged a total of $12,447 though the staff payroll deduction program. This amount represents a nearly 63 percent increase over last year's staff contributions and will benefit a variety of LPEF programs including the Memorial Garden, Lancer Emergency Support Fund, Funds for Excellence Grants and Scholarships. As you can see, our Lake Park stakeholders - from families and residents to employees and alumni - are truly "one" community. While Homecoming represents just a snapshot in time each fall, we embrace the connection year-round and invite you to be an active part of Lancer Nation. I encourage you to make plans and join us along the parade route today or during the football games and halftime events this evening. Thank you for supporting our students and their academic and extracurricular experiences as Lancers. I hope you feel the same sense of pride as I do to be a part of this outstanding school community.
We Are Lake Park!
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The Lake Park High School Community Relations Office publishes the LP Link bi-weekly to highlight the latest news at Lake Park. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Sherri Anderson, director of communications, at sanderson@lphs.org.
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Homecoming Week Culminates with Lancer Spirit
Lancer Nation's 2014 Homecoming theme, How Lake Park Was "One," has featured a week of superheros, cowboys and students and staff donning pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the power puff football fundraiser.
The Homecoming activities culminate this weekend with today's pep assembly, parade, football game, halftime performances and the dance on Saturday.
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Author of #1 New York Times Bestseller to Visit Lake Park
Lake Park students have been reading and talking about Thirteen Reasons Why, a #1 New York Times bestseller by author Jay Asher who will speak during all-student assemblies at both campuses on Monday, October 6. The author's visit coincides with Anti-Bullying Awareness month and will be one of the stops on his "50 States Against Bullying" tour.
Thanks to the generosity of the Lake Park Educational Foundation, students will have the opportunity to hear Mr. Asher speak, meet him in person and purchase a signed copy of this young adult book that has become an anti-bullying anthem. The book underscores the importance of recognizing the effect our words and actions have on others, and the fact that every person matters. Through literary circles hosted during lunch periods, students have been sharing thoughtful insights and engaging in respectful discussion about serious themes that include bullying, suicide and rumors within a high school setting.
Copies of Thirteen Reasons Why are circulating as part of a "pass the book" campaign launched by the library staff, English Department and Stand for the Silent club. Paperback books are also available for purchase by paying $8.80 in cash or by check in the East Campus Library or West Campus Book Room. The last literary circle will be hosted during the second half of lunch periods on Thursday, October 2. Find out why fans are claiming, "This book changed my life."
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College-Bound Athlete Information Night
Students and their families are invited to attend a college-bound athlete information night on Thursday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the West Campus Auditorium. Topics to be covered include: NCAA eligibility and academic requirements, time commitments, recruiting and expectations for college athletes.
Join us for an evening dedicated to helping students prepare for post-secondary educational and athletic options. Speakers include:
- Mike Mucha - school counselor, coach and former college athlete
- Mike Sakiewiciz - school counselor
- Andrea Miller - math teacher, 3-sport college athlete, former collegiate Graduate Assistant, two time Academic All-American in softball, 19 seasons coaching
- Gabriel Rivera - track & field coach, University of Illinois at Chicago
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Order a Lancer Nation Yard Sign to Show Your LP Spirit
Lake Park is selling custom school spirit yard signs handmade by students who are members of the J. Kyle Braid Leadership Organization. The money that is raised will help fund the Lancer Nation student section and other school spirit initiatives.
Lancer Nation Yard Signs are made with one post for a cost of $25 (multiple signs can be purchased at a discount for households with more than one Lancer). Signs are 4.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Each sign reads "HOME OF A LANCER" and each post is used to express the activities in which a Lancer student is involved. For Lancers who are involved in more than one activity or sport, additional posts can be purchased for $10 each.
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Board of Education Candidate Information
Illinois School Board Elections will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. During the April election, three 4-year positions will be available to serve on the Lake Park High School District 108 Board of Education. September 23 marked the first day candidates could begin circulating petitions. The filing period for nomination packets for these elected positions is December 15-22.
Recent legislation significantly changed school election procedures. The board secretary's election responsibilities were significantly reduced and the board president has no election responsibilities.
Due to these changes:
- Nominating petition forms can be picked up at the office of the DuPage County Clerk or the county board of election commissioners at 421 N. County Farm Road. Blank petitions may also be downloaded from the State Board of Elections' website.
- Nominating petitions must be filed with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners for DuPage County. Candidates may contact the county clerk or the county board of elections commissioners to see if there are places other than the main office where they can file their nomination papers.
Information about the 2015 election, including FAQs, an election calendar and candidate's guide, can be found at the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) website and the DuPage County Election Commission website. |
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Voice of Democracy Contest Reflects on Veterans
The Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars' (VFW's) premier scholarship program since 1947. Each year, almost 40,000 high school students compete for more than $2.1 million in scholarships and incentives. Prizes and scholarships are awarded at the Post, district, state and national level.
The VFW established the Voice of Democracy program to provide students in grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regards to democratic ideas and principles. Students compete by writing and recording a 3-5 minute audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year's theme is: "Why Veterans are Important to our Nation's History and Future."
Itasca VFW Post 5167 encourages Lake Park students to enter the Voice of Democracy contest for a chance to win prize money: $300 for first place, $125 for second place, and $75 for third place. Read the contest requirements and complete an entry by Saturday, November 1 for consideration.
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What is the "Lancer Way?"
As you have visited our campuses, you may have noticed large signs posted in various places that refer to the "Lancer Way." Perhaps a student has referenced the "Lancer Way" as he or she has talked about school. So, what is this Lancer Way? Simply put, the Lancer Way is a concise way to communicate behavior expectations to all constituents of the Lake Park community. The main tenants of the Lancer Way call us all to be "Respectful, Responsible and Safe." The signs help us all to understand behavior expectations in specific places like the hallways, the cafeteria, etc. Classroom teachers have presented lessons that teach expected behaviors in the classrooms as well as various other places.
A committee of school volunteers have been working for several years to develop these lessons along with goals for the school community to work toward as we seek to continually improve the atmosphere at Lake Park. This group uses the PBIS (Positive Behaviors, Interventions and Supports) model as a guide for how these lessons and goals are structured, taught and reinforced.
Lake Park is already a wonderful school full of positive programs and great academics. The Lancer Way is one more way to help our school community become even more positive!
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Civil Rights Leader Visits LP's "History of Chicago" Class
Junior and senior students enrolled in Lake Park's "History of Chicago" class had a first-hand opportunity to hear from one of Chicago's very own civil rights leaders. Jack Macnamara was the chief organizer of the Contract Buyers League of Chicago, an organization of African-American homeowners who were gouged by unscrupulous real estate speculators when they bought their homes. The Contract Buyers League initiated two federal lawsuits and conducted a strategically planned payment strike. As a result, 450 families had their contracts renegotiated with an average savings per family of $13,500. Purchasers of new homes on the south side did not get their contracts renegotiated, but by the time they were evicted from their homes they had enough money saved through the payment strike to enable them to buy better homes than those from which they were evicted.
A new course for this school year, Chicago History is designed to be different from most other high school courses. Using student's interests in local history pushes the curriculum to change from semester to semester. Students will be able to study a wide range of topics that are focused around Chicago history. With no specific textbook to study these topics, students will use newspaper articles, textbook excerpts, and first-hand experiences. Areas of study include gangsters, the entertainment district, prohibition, Chicago fire, Resurrection Mary, Eastland disaster, Our Lady of the Angels fire, 1919 race riots, Cabrini Green, blues music, Black Sox scandal, Iroquois theater fire, and many other topics that have influenced our city and its history.
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Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Lake Park High School will host parent-teacher conferences on Thursday, October 23 (5:00 to 8:00 p.m.) and Friday, October 24 (7:30 a.m. to 12 noon) at both campuses. These conferences allow parents/guardians an opportunity to meet with teachers on an individual basis. We encourage parents to meet with as many teachers as possible.
Please note that students will follow a regular bell schedule with full-day attendance on Thursday, October 23; however, students will not attend school on Friday, October 24.
The electronic conference scheduler will be available from Friday, October 10 at 6:00 a.m. until Wednesday, October 22 at 3:00 p.m. Scheduling information, including step-by-step instructions with logins, will be sent to parents during the first week of October.
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 Bring Your Luck for Texas Hold'em Poker
Help support the Lake Park Athletic Boosters at the first Texas Hold'em Poker Fundraiser this school year on Wednesday, October 8 from 1 p.m. to midnight at Brunswick Zone, 1100 W. Lake St. in Roselle. The event includes Sit and Go Tables, Single Table Tournaments, Pot of Gold and Cash Games. All proceeds will benefit the athletic boosters.
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Important Dates
Sept 29 Board of Education Meeting
Oct 6 All-school assemblies with author of Thirteen Reasons Why
Oct 8 SMART DAY
Oct 13 Student Non-Attendance (Columbus Day)
Oct 23 Parent-Teacher Conferences (5:00 to 8:00 p.m.)
Oct 24 Parent-Teacher Conferences (7:30 a.m. to 12 noon)/ Student Non-Attendance
View the 2014-2015 academic calendar.
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